Remove Dharma [makedonskiy@india.com] .wallet Virus

How to Remove Dharma Ransomware?

Readers recently started to report the following message being displayed when they boot their computer:

ATTENTION!
At the moment, your system is not protected.
We can fix it and restore files.
To restore the system write to this address:
bitcoin143@india.com

The Dharma Ransomware is back. Hackers never give up on their old favorites and tend to revisit them. That is the case with Dharma. We’ve already witnessed numerous versions of this famous file-encrypting parasite. Today’s article is all about the newest member of its malicious family. The thing with ransomware is, these infections all follow the same pattern. They land on the target computer system. They locate private data. They encrypt it. If you’ve seen one ransomware virus, you’ve pretty much seen them all. Dharma’s latest variant doesn’t deviate from the rules. It gets activated as soon as it lands on board. The installation itself happens without your permission. After all, nobody would install such a pest voluntarily. Dharma firstly performs a thorough scan on your machine. Why? Because it’s searching for your private files. Unfortunately, ransomware always finds what it seeks. The parasite locates all files stored on your machine and starts encrypting them. Dharma utilizes a strong encrypting algorithm. That means the data it modifies is left completely unusable. A huge number of formats gets encrypted by the virus. Photos, Microsoft Office documents, music files, videos, presentations. Ransomware doesn’t play around. It denies you access to anything of value it locates. It will inevitably cause you a headache if you don’t keep backups of your data. Once Dharma locks your files, you will notice a brand new appendix added to them. This particular virus adds the [makedonskiy@india.com].wallet extension. Now that your data is renamed, there is no doubt that it is inaccessible as well. Ransomware-type parasites turn files into unreadable gibberish. Your computer isn’t able to recognize the new format your data now has. As a result, you won’t be able to open your files. Simple as that. The reason why Dharma messes with your files as also quite simple. As mentioned, the parasite works in silence and locks files out of the blue. It’s extremely aggressive and worrisome. Hence, a lot of PC users would give into their panic. That is what ransomware is all about. The more anxious you are after witnessing Dharma’s trickery, the better for crooks. This parasite is attempting to scam you. While encrypting your files, the virus also drops detailed payment instructions. They promise a decryption key in exchange for a certain sum of money. It goes without saying that paying would be a terrible, terrible idea.

How did I get infected with?

The virus has many infiltration tactics to choose from. It might have been attached to some spam message or an email. Despite being relatively old, this technique is the most popular one when it comes to ransomware. Next time you receive something in your inbox that you don’t trust, delete it. Clicking a fake email open might set free some problematic piece of malware. Are you trying to compromise your own machine? No? The put your safety first and stay away from random email-attachments. In addition, crooks may use social media to spread parasites online. Instead of rushing, pay attention to what to open. Remember, the Web is filled with potential intruders. You have to be careful every single time you browse the Internet. You now know how dangerous ransomware is. Are you willing to risk getting infected once again? Delete suspicious job applications and bizarre emails from shipping companies. More often than not, those are corrupted and harmful. Another efficient technique involves exploit kits or fake program updates. Restrain yourself from installing illegitimate bundles too. The Dharma Ransomware could have also gotten installed with some help from a Trojan horse. Long story short, you could never be too cautious when surfing the Internet.

Why is Dharma dangerous?

The parasite tries to trick you into paying for a decryption key. Are you sure making a deal with hackers is a risk worth taking, though? To say the least, crooks aren’t among the most trustworthy people out there. They develop ransomware infections solely so they could scam you. Believing the parasite’s lies could eventually cost you money. Instead of falling right into the trap, ignore the ransom notes. Dharma adds its messages to all folders that contain locked files. It might also modify your desktop wallpaper as well. According to the notes, crooks will provide you a decryptor after you pay. Keep in mind that this is a fraud. Paying doesn’t guarantee you anything and it certainly doesn’t fix the problem. To delete the virus manually, please follow our detailed removal guide. You will find it down below.

Dharma Removal Instructions

STEP 1: Kill the Malicious Process

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

STEP 3: Locate Startup Location

STEP 4: Recover Dharma Encrypted Files

STEP 1: Stop the malicious process using Windows Task Manager

• Open your task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Locate the process of the ransomware. Have in mind that this is usually a random generated file.
• Before you kill the process, type the name on a text document for later reference.

• Locate any suspicious processes associated with Dharma encryption Virus.
• Right click on the process
• Open File Location
• End Process
• Delete the directories with the suspicious files.
• Have in mind that the process can be hiding and very difficult to detect

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

STEP 3: Locate Dharma encryption Virus startup location

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”
• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to:

Navigate to your %appdata% folder and delete the executable.

You can alternatively use your msconfig windows program to double check the execution point of the virus. Please, have in mind that the names in your machine might be different as they might be generated randomly, that’s why you should run any professional scanner to identify malicious files.

STEP 4: How to recover encrypted files?

• Method 1: The first and best method is to restore your data from a recent backup, in case that you have one.

• Method 2: File Recovery Software – Usually when the ransomware encrypts a file it first makes a copy of it, encrypts the copy, and then deletes the original. Due to this you may try to use file recovery software to recover some of your original files.
• Method 3: Shadow Volume Copies – As a last resort, you can try to restore your files via Shadow Volume Copies. Open the Shadow Explorer part of the package and choose the Drive you want to recover. Right click on any file you want to restore and click Export on it.